William was reported missing multiple times, and his biological grandmother said she was the “mastermind” of the first missing persons report.
According to Natalie Collins, who was his grandmother, she helped orchestrate his disappearance two years before he was taken away from his parents.
During the second episode of the podcast Witness: William, which was released today, Ms Collins revealed that she hid the documents related to the case for three months after she learned that the state government would take William.
She also said that she arranged the details of the kidnapping.
During the interview, Ms Collins admitted that she should have taken William away from his parents, Karlie and Brendan Collins, when he was seven years old.
The court ruled that William should be taken away due to the concerns of the NSW government about the family’s substance abuse and domestic violence.
At the hearing, Ms Tyrrell was informed that her son would be taken away from her. The court ordered that the government officials collect him from her home.
However, when they arrived, William and his family were hiding with Ms Collins.
A police strike force known as Duncraig was then deployed to look for William, but it was unsuccessful.
William was then the subject of another strike force, Rosann.
In 2012, after he was taken by authorities, he was placed with foster parents.
In 2014, the couple who took him reported him missing.
Since then, no one has been charged in connection with his disappearance.